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Posts Tagged ‘Tours’

Ireland is a country of amazing beauty and charisma. And its people are warm and welcoming. These two elements are what makes Ireland one of traveler’s most sought-after destinations in the world.

Although there might be economic hardship there right now, you’d never know it from the candor and openness of the people; the wonder of the landscape; and the magnificent, historical sights available to all who travel there.

We’re now offering tours to Ireland for the first time. To kick off our first set of tour dates, we issued a press release with all the details these tours have to offer. Scroll down to get a taste of what a trip to Ireland will be like.

Explore the Marvels of the Emerald Isle with Friendly Planet Travel’s A Taste of Ireland TourTravelers can experience Dublin, Kerry, Killarney, Kilkenny, Limerick, and more with this seven-day tour, starting at just $1,744

JENKINTOWN, Pa. — (TRAV PR) — The rich history, warm hospitality, stunning landscape, and authentic Irish food and drink define Ireland as one of the world’s most visited destinations. Thanks to Friendly Planet Travel, a leading tour operator that offers high-quality, affordable vacation packages to exotic destinations worldwide, travelers can experience the authenticity of the Emerald Isle’s rolling green countryside, historic castles, famous pubs, and more on the seven-day A Taste of Ireland tour, all for the unbelievable price of $1,744.

“Ireland is one of the world’s most stunning destinations with outstanding scenery, brilliant castles, and green, rolling hills,” says Peggy Goldman, President of Friendly Planet Travel. “It’s no surprise that this picturesque island is referred to as the ’emerald isle.’”

A Taste of Ireland includes round-trip airfare, including fuel surcharges, from Newark (many additional departure cities available for an additional cost); all ground transportation and transfers; accommodations in superior and deluxe hotels; daily Irish breakfast and two dinners; a comprehensive touring program including entrance fees; a professional, English-speaking driver and guide, and more.

The journey continues northward to Tarbert with a short boat ride across the mouth of Ireland’s longest river, River Shannon, bringing travelers to the village of Killimer. Travelers experience a view of the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher along the Atlantic Ocean, and enjoy a tour of the Burren Region, known for its impressive scenery and numerous castles and monastic ruins.

Friendly Planet’s seven-day A Taste of Ireland tour is available for $1,744 on the departure dates of April 23, May 7, and Oct. 8, if booked by Feb. 22.

And for travelers with a little more time, the nine-day Discover Ireland tour, from $2,044, includes nearly all of the highlights of A Taste of Ireland, plus a visit to the old stone city of Galway, known for its narrow streets and busy pubs and the Connemara region, where Gaelic is still spoken. A tour of the Benedictine Monastery, Kylemore Abbey, and the Monastery of Clonmacnoise brings travelers back to Dublin to enjoy their remaining time in “Dublin’s Fair City” and explore Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university.

The Friendly Planet team, myself included, has been to Asia at least a dozen times. So I wanted to share with you ways to save on flights, hotels, tours, currency exchange, and restaurants.

But since there’s so much to tell you about, I’m splitting this post into two. Look for part two in a few days. Let’s start with ways to save on flights and hotels when booking a trip to Asia.

FlightsAsia is far away for American travelers. That means you’re going to be flying for a very long time, no matter which carrier you select. But if you do your airfare research, you’ll discover that there are wide variations in pricing. In booking flights, I typically look for the least expensive deal I can find.

Sometimes that double connection actually saves hundreds of dollars per ticket off the single connection or nonstop flight. Keep in mind that the single connection and nonstop flights still take a long time, and if you can save $300, 400, or more on your tickets by choosing the longer flight, you might want to take advantage of the savings.

Or, consider departing one day earlier, take a relatively small part of your savings to pay for an extra hotel overnight at your destination, and give yourself the gift of a day to rest and recover from the jet lag. You will need the extra rest regardless of the flight you take. But saving money on the ticket will give you the money to indulge in the luxury of sleeping off the impact on your body of the long flight. You will still enjoy the savings from your tickets, and you’ll be ready to explore the destination with plenty of energy.

HotelsHotels in many Asian destinations can be tricky. The price is not the sole consideration for selecting a hotel. I start with the location of the hotel. Make sure that it’s very close to, or even at, a public transportation station.

In many, many Asian cities, gridlock is what you’ll find all day and into the night. Traffic is a nightmare and getting around the city can be a horrible and time-wasting experience. Even if your hotel is practically free, if you have to spend hours getting around, the value of your entire vacation will be eroded by the inability to do the things you really want to do.

On the other hand, if you’re near a tube, light rail, or (last choice) a bus line, you’ll make much better time. The extra cost of a hotel in a location that is very close to good public transportation will be well worth it.

Also, when you do your comparison shopping for a hotel, be sure your breakfast (buffet, American style) is included in the cost, as well as taxes and other fees. Otherwise, you may think you’re paying a bargain price only to discover the real cost is 50 percent or more more than your budget. I would NOT recommend staying in anything less than superior tourist class hotels in Asia, unless you are staying in a B&B owned by a good friend.

So, if designing your own trip to Asia is more your style, try using Friendly Planet’s new travel search engine. It lets you search thousands of great deals on flights and hotels. Our travel search engine is an easy way to arrange your next vacation, while enjoying Friendly Planet’s great savings and award-winning service.

And stay tuned. I’ll talk about ways to save on tours, currency exchange, and restaurants in part two. But before I get to that, have you been to Asia recently? Please share some of your own advice on ways to save in a comment on this post.